Rooney's Season...

United 4 Life

I have read alot of talk on here about how Rooney has been somewhat disappointing or underachieving for the past couple of seasons.

So my question is how many goals/assists would make it a really good season for Rooney.

2004/2005: 37(6) -- 17 goals and 4 assists.

2005/2006: 44(4) -- 19 goals and 14 assists.

2006/2007: 51(4) -- 23 goals and 14 assists.

2007/2008: 38(4) -- 18 goals and 14 assists.

I know Rooney offers much much more to United than goals and assists, but what kind of figures would make people say it was a amazing season for him.

2008/2009: ?

SharkyMcShark

Obviously he's down on goals numbers wise compared to the last two seasons before this one, but I think people's main grievance with him is that his finishing is so dire at times that he could easily have had a significant amount more if he started living up to the 'world class' tag and buried more of the chances that came to him.

18 goals is a reasonable haul, but given an injury free season I'd expect him to get 25 - 30 goals if he could capitalise on the amount of chances falling his way.

That said, people seem to forget that he was injured and out for two significant spells early in the season (foot and ankle), and that he played the last month with a hip/hernia injury that he is only getting rectified now.

Freak

I want to see rooney playing behind a main striker. Since he came to united, he has been consistantly pushed to different positions. Its ridiculous.

Lot 49

1 goal every 2 games always seems like a good benchmark to me, certainly should be achievable for a top forward playing in one of the world's best teams. He definitely gets enough chances.

Andy81

I think part of the problem is that he is very selfless, he needs to be a bit more greedy.

Yianni

If he converted at least half of his 1-on-1 chances you could probably add at least 10 goals to each of those seasons. It seems like he misses every chance he gets when it's just the goalkeeper to beat.

uae

For last season is that 38 starts 4 sub appearances or 38 appearances 4 as a sub?

smallred

his stats last season are no different to the others really when you take into account he had 3 different injuries and missed alot of games. we won the league, are champions of europe and rooney played a massive part in in. im more than happy with his performaces last season.

KeyserSoze

Spot on.

UnitedRoadRed

We've just won the double and it's a team game. Inquests are for LU-SERS, like the rest of the Big Four who ended up trophyless.

Successful

Please keep in mind Rooney get to take no penalties. That's the main difference between him and most of the other strikers out there. Can anyone recall how many goals he got this season from a penalty or free kick? From what I see it looks like a perfectly normal built up career for a good striker. That many goals this early in the career is not something that you see every day. Compare him to two other english strikers.

Michael Owen from the age of 17
1
23
23
12
24
28
28
19

Alan Shearer from the age of 17
3
0
5
12
18
22
33
37
37

Wayne Rooney
8
9
17
19
23
18

And then there are other players like Robbie Fowler who start out like a fucking goal machine only to get worse when he's suppose to be in his prime.

EZee

wait till next season...

with ronaldo gone (look its gonna happen) he will get more freedom and show that hes the better player of the 2 anyway

25 goals... 25 assists?... its not beyond him

Red Pavan

Here is a question: Can rooney ever become the "TBPITW"?

Successful

Probably not because he's english. I think he'd have to win the CL, golden boot, something with England to even be considered a candidate.

Sam#1

Yes. And he will do.

Decotron

I wouldnt say its ridiculous, we just won 2 major titles with him playing a v important role. Sometimes needs must. Also its all part of his education. Dont get me wrong it should end now but Im sure its helped him in terms of his understanding of the game and his maturity aswell.

KingMinger22

Rooney could be the BPITW if Ronaldo goes because we could build the team around his strengths...


All he needs is to improve his finishing and he could score EASILY 30+ goals...

He's got it all...

Raven_Blade

Next season I would like to see Rooney get 25+ goals and 20+ assists. That would probably convince some people that he has had a good season.

Decotron

I was considering doing a match bet on Rooney outscoring ronaldo next season. I just think our team will evolve somewhat and if we do get another striker in to lead the line I think Rooney will benefit massively whereas I dont think Ronaldo would score as many

arnie sidebottom

How many games do Utd win / lose / draw when he plays? Then calculate value from that point!

Similar to the Carrick argument - if your effect on the team is to get 110% out of everyone then the odd 'quiet game', stray pass or missed 1 on 1 really doesn't matter.

Don16

Just read a great quote from SAF about Rooney

"Wayne's been in my ear wanting to play, wanting to be captain, take the penalties, the corners, freekicks, goal kicks, the lot."

AttackingFlair

He can become player of the year in England at least.

Alex

I could see him getting 30 goals if he stays healthy

Fergies Formula

I dont think the problem lies with how many goals he has scored or assisted this season, the problems lies with the ways he play in a game in comparison to his first 3 seasons for us, where we saw a much more direct explosive and individualistic wayne rooney who would look to create game changing moments whenever he was in possession higher up the pitch. His reputation hampers him because of the kind of things he used to do which he doesn't anymore.

I was in the van nistelrooy forum earlier and i saw the goal where rooney runs from the half way line beating 4 men then floating a ball into ruud to smash home, against Charlton i think, and also for example the second goal on his debut against Fenebache... these show exactly the differences between now and then and the reason why people get on his back, the goals aren't the problem, although finishing the easy chances he gets would help, exploding past opposition, shooting from long range and dribbling at men to put them on the back foot is what he was famed for and are now things which he rarely does.

His goal/ assist tally may have improved, but i think the parts of his game where he excelled as a teen have slowly faded, as he become a much more rounded and experienced player.

The question is will he get it back? or is it the raw youthfulness we saw has diminished with his age? what do you guys think - will we see the bulldog spirit again?

I love rooney whatever, but seein him do what i know he can would make me that bit happier

surf

Even if we get such a player, he won't play all the time. Expect to see a plenty more of the versatile Rooney playing all over the forward line.

Fergies Formula

If he was given a role in his natural position and we build the side around him there, i think he would defiantly go on to much better things and be considered by all as world class

acnumber9

Very good assesment. People get frustrated watching Rooney at the moment because they know he's capable of so much more. MUTV had a short piece on about him the other day showing some of the goals he's scored for the clubs and it brought back memories of how he was playing a couple of seasons ago. He's not progressed the way he should have done to date.

RedDevilCanuck

Rooney is a fuckin genious and the best attacking Englishmen out there. Lets stop over analyzing his play. He needs to improve his finishing particularly in one on ones but besides that he is fuckin awsome. Lets see how he does next year after a proper rest and no injuries.